The impressive MS Europa, a five-star cruise-liner, ported in Portimão recently.
The Hapag-Lloyd Cruises company is one of the most luxurious in the world and its MS Europa charges each passenger an average 500 euros per day. The ship carries 408 passengers in total, who are offered a large amount of facilities on board, including a spa, gym, library, auditorium, seven bars and a hospital! In 2004, 6,500 passengers, on 21 ships, stopped at the Portimão harbour, and this number soared by a staggering 554 per cent the following year, where the city saw 36,000 people come through. This year is expected to be even greater for maritime tourism.
